JP2005057660A - Image processing device, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size of image data by decreasing the number of colors of an image to such an extent as a user's requests and making a specific color factor drop out when the color image is changed into a monochrome binary form. <P>SOLUTION: The designation of the number of colors is received for decreasing the number of colors for color image data, or the designation of specific color factors to be deleted is received when the color data are changed into monochrome binary forms. (step S1). The number of colors for the color image data is decreased in the same way as designated, or the color factors of color image data are deleted and the image process for changing the color image data into monochrome binary form is carried out (step S6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a program, and a storage medium that execute processing for changing the number of colors of an image and processing for reducing a specific color.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for changing the number of colors of an image when distributing the image.

JP 2002-281262 A

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a color image is transmitted via a network, the network load can be reduced by reducing the number of colors of the image and reducing the size of the image data before transmitting the image. can do. In addition, when an image is formed by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, toner can be saved and running cost can be reduced.

  However, the number of colors in the image is directly related to the image quality, and the image quality is not important. If you want to reduce the size of the image file as much as possible, on the contrary, you want to reduce the size of the image data so much because the quality of the image is important. There are various cases where the user needs such as a case where the user does not exist, and there is a problem that if the number of colors of the image is uniformly reduced, the needs of these users cannot be answered.

  As another means for reducing the size of the image data of the color image, it is conceivable to drop out (whiten) a specific color component when the color image is binarized into black and white.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of colors of an image to a degree desired by a user so that the size of image data can be reduced.

  Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of image data by dropping out a specific color component when a color image is binarized into black and white.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a first specifying means for accepting designation of the number of colors so as to reduce the number of colors of the color image data, and an image processing means for reducing the number of colors of the color image data as designated. , An image processing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, first designation means for accepting designation of a color component to be deleted when the color image data is binarized into black and white, and deleting the designated color component of the color image data, And an image processing unit that binarizes color image data into black and white.

  The invention according to claim 3 further comprises second specifying means for specifying a range on the image to be reduced in the number of colors or to be binarized in the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The image processing means reduces the number of colors of the image within the range as specified or binarizes the image.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, first designation means for accepting designation of the number of colors via the input device so as to reduce the number of colors of the color image data, and the number of colors of the color image data according to the designation. A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute image processing means to be reduced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, first designation means for accepting designation of a color component to be deleted when color image data is binarized into black and white, and deleting the designated color component of the color image data to A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute image processing means for binarizing color image data into black and white.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the program according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the program further comprises second designation means for designating a range on the image to reduce the number of colors or to make the monochrome binary. The processing means reduces the number of colors as specified in the image within the range or binarizes the monochrome.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is a storage medium storing the program according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the number of colors of an image can be reduced to the extent desired by a user, and the size of image data can be reduced.

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the size of the image data can be reduced by dropping out a specific color component of the color image and binarizing it.

  The invention described in claims 3 and 6 is the invention described in claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, and reduces the number of colors or reduces the size of image data by dropping out color components in an unimportant region of the image. While reducing, important areas on the image can maintain high image quality.

  The invention according to claim 7 can achieve the same effects as those of the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  In this embodiment, as an information processing apparatus, a copy function, a facsimile (FAX) function, a print function, a scanner function, and an input image (a document image read by a scanner function or an image input by a printer or a FAX function) are distributed. An example in which the present invention is applied to a so-called digital color complex machine that combines the above and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including a digital color multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a server computer 3 and a plurality of client computers that execute various types of information processing via the digital color MFP 1 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 2 that is a communication network. Assume a system in which 4 is connected. The server computer 3 supports, for example, the FTP and HTTP protocols, and realizes functions of a Web server and DNS (Domain Name Server). That is, in this system, there is an environment in which image processing functions such as an image input function (scanner function), an image output function (print function), and an image storage function provided in the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 can be shared on the LAN 2. It has been built.

  Such a system is connected to the Internet network 6 via the communication control unit 5 and is constructed so as to be able to communicate data with an external environment via the Internet network 6. The communication control unit 5 is generally a router, an exchange, a modem, a DSL modem, or the like, but it is sufficient that TCP / IP communication is possible at a minimum. The LAN 2 is not limited to wired communication, but may be wireless communication (infrared rays, radio waves, etc.). Further, an optical fiber may be used.

  Next, the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view schematically showing the digital color multifunction peripheral 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of each part of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 has a configuration in which an image reading device 8 that reads an image from a document is disposed above a printing device 7 that is an image forming device that forms an image on a medium such as transfer paper. It is said that. An operation panel P that allows various inputs such as display for an operator and function setting from the operator is provided on the outer surface of the image reading device 8. Further, under the operation panel P, program codes and image data stored in a storage medium M (see FIG. 3) such as an optical disk and a flexible disk are read, or program codes and images are read from the storage medium M. An external media input / output device 9 that is a device for writing data and the like is provided with an insertion opening that allows insertion of the storage medium M exposed to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 is roughly divided into an image processing unit A and an information processing unit B, and the printing device 7 and the image reading device 8 are image processing units. The operation panel P and the external media input / output device 9 belong to the information processing unit B.

  The image processing unit A will be described. The image processing unit A including the printing device 7 and the image reading device 8 includes an image processing control unit 10 that performs overall control of image processing in the image processing unit A. The image processing control unit 10 includes a printing unit. A print control unit 11 that controls the apparatus 7 and an image reading control unit 12 that controls the image reading apparatus 8 are connected.

  The print control unit 11 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 7 under the control of the image processing control unit 10, and causes the printing apparatus 7 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper. The printing device 7 is capable of full-color printing. In addition to the electrophotographic method, the printing method includes various methods such as an inkjet method, a sublimation type thermal transfer method, a silver salt photography method, a direct thermal recording method, and a melt type thermal transfer method. Can be used.

  The image reading control unit 12 drives the image reading device 8 under the control of the image processing control unit 10, and reflects the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the surface of the document to a light receiving element (for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)) using a mirror and a lens. Light is collected and read, and A / D converted to generate 8-bit RGB digital image data.

  Such an image processing control unit 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 13 as a main processor and an SDRAM (Synchronous) that temporarily stores image data read from the image reading device 8 for image formation by the printing device 7. Dynamic Random Access Memory) 14, ROM (Read Only Memory) 15 storing a control program, NVRAM 16 capable of holding data even when the power is turned off to record system log / system setting / log information, The microcomputer is configured with a bus connection.

  Further, the image processing control unit 10 includes an image processing unit via an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 17 serving as a storage device for storing a large amount of image data and a job history, and a HUB 19 which is a concentrator provided inside the device. A LAN control unit 18 for connecting the part A to the LAN 2 and a FAX control unit 20 for performing FAX control are connected. The FAX control unit 20 is connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) 22 that communicates with the public telephone network 21, and the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 can communicate with a remote facsimile apparatus.

  In addition, a display control unit 23 and an operation input control unit 24 are connected to the image processing control unit 10. The display control unit 23 outputs an image display control signal to the information processing unit unit B via the communication cable 26 connected to the control panel I / F 25 under the control of the image processing control unit 10. The image display is controlled on the operation panel P. Further, the operation input control unit 24 connects an input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the operator from the operation panel P of the information processing unit B to the control panel I / F 25 by the control of the image processing control unit 10. Input via the communication cable 26. In other words, the image processing unit A is configured to be able to directly monitor the operation panel P of the information processing unit B via the communication cable 26.

  Accordingly, the image processing unit A is configured such that the communication cable 26 is connected to the image processing unit provided in the conventional image processing apparatus, and the operation panel P of the information processing unit B is used. That is, the display control unit 23 and the operation input control unit 24 of the image processing unit A operate as if they are connected to the operation panel P.

  With such a configuration, the image processing unit A analyzes the print data that is image information from the outside (the server computer 3, the client computer 4, the facsimile machine, etc.) and the command that instructs printing, and outputs the print data to the output image data The bitmap is expanded so that it can be printed, and the printing mode is analyzed from the command to determine the operation. The print data and command are received and operated through the LAN control unit 18 or the FAX control unit 20.

  In addition, the image processing unit A externally print data stored in the SDRAM 14 or the HDD 17, document reading data, output image data processed for output, and compressed data obtained by compressing them externally (server computer 3, Client computer 4, facsimile, etc.).

  Further, the image processing unit A transfers the read image data of the image reading device 8 to the image processing control unit 10, corrects signal deterioration due to quantization to the optical system and digital signals, and stores the image data in the SDRAM 14. Write. The image data stored in the SDRAM 14 in this way is converted into output image data by the print control unit 11 and output to the printing apparatus 7.

  Next, the information processing unit B including the operation panel P will be described. The information processing unit part B has a microcomputer configuration controlled by a general-purpose OS (Operating System) used in an information processing apparatus generally called a personal computer. The information processing unit section B has a CPU 31 that is a main processor, and the CPU 31 includes a memory unit that includes a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores a RAM that is a work area of the CPU 31, a startup program, and the like. 32 and a storage device control unit 35 that controls input / output of data to / from a storage device 34 such as an HDD that stores an OS (Operating System) and application programs are connected via a bus.

  The CPU 31 is connected to a LAN control unit 33 that is a communication interface for connecting the information processing unit unit B to the LAN 2 via the HUB 19. The IP address that is the network address assigned to the LAN control unit 33 is different from the IP address assigned to the LAN control unit 18 of the image processing unit A described above. That is, two IP addresses are assigned to the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 of the present embodiment. That is, the image processing unit unit A and the information processing unit unit B are each connected to the LAN 2, and the image processing unit unit A and the information processing unit unit B can exchange data. ing.

  Since the digital color multifunction peripheral 1 is connected to the LAN 2 via the HUB 19, it appears that only one IP address is assigned. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance is not impaired, and handling such as connection can be facilitated.

  Further, a display control unit 36 and an operation input control unit 37 that control the operation panel P are connected to the CPU 31. Here, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel P. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel P includes a display device 40 that is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an operation input device 41. The operation input device 41 includes an ultrasonic acoustic wave type touch panel 41a laminated on the surface of the display device 40 and a keyboard 41b having a plurality of keys. The keyboard 41b is provided with a start key for declaring the start of image reading, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values, a reading condition setting key for setting the transmission destination of the read image data, a clear key, and the like. That is, the display control unit 36 outputs an image display control signal to the display device 40 via the control panel I / F 38 and causes the display device 40 to display predetermined items corresponding to the image display control signal. On the other hand, the operation input control unit 37 receives, via the control panel I / F 38, an input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the operator in the operation input device 41.

  In addition, a control panel communication unit 39 connected to the control panel I / F 25 of the image processing unit A via the communication cable 26 is connected to the CPU 31. The control panel communication unit 39 receives the image display control signal output from the image processing unit unit A, and receives the input control signal according to the function setting or input operation by the operator from the operation panel P. Forward to. Although details will be described later, the image display control signal from the image processing unit A received by the control panel communication unit 39 is subjected to data conversion processing for the display device 40 of the operation panel P and then output to the display control unit 36. The input control signal corresponding to the function setting or input operation by the operator from the operation panel P is input to the control panel communication unit 39 after being subjected to data conversion processing in a format according to the specifications in the image processing unit A. .

  As described above, the storage device 34 stores an OS (Operating System) and application programs executed by the CPU 31. In this sense, the storage device 34 functions as a storage medium that stores application programs. In the digital color multifunction peripheral 1, when the user turns on the power, the CPU 31 activates the activation program in the memory unit 32, reads the OS from the storage device 34 into the RAM in the memory unit 32, and activates the OS. Such an OS activates a program, reads information, and stores information in accordance with a user operation. As a representative OS, Windows (registered trademark) and the like are known. These operation programs running on the OS are called application programs. The OS of the information processing unit section B is the same type of OS as the information processing apparatus (server computer 3, client computer 4, etc.), that is, a general-purpose OS (for example, Windows (registered trademark)).

  As described above, the digital color multi-function peripheral 1 of the present embodiment has a storage medium M that stores various program codes (control programs) such as an OS, device drivers and various application programs, image data, and the like. , Flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO), semiconductor A flexible disk drive device, an optical disk drive device, and an MO drive device, which are devices that read program codes, image data, and the like stored in a storage medium M such as a medium, or write program codes, image data, and the like to the storage medium M , Media drive devices, etc. External media input-output device 9 is mounted. Such an external media input / output device 9 is controlled by an input / output device control unit 42 connected to the CPU 31 by a bus.

  Therefore, the application program stored in the storage device 34 may be one in which the application program recorded in the storage medium M is installed. Therefore, the storage medium M can also be a storage medium that stores application programs. Furthermore, the application program may be imported from the outside via, for example, the Internet network 6 and the LAN 2 and installed in the storage device 34.

  The input / output device control unit 42 is also connected with various interfaces 43 such as USB, IEEE 1394, SCSI, and the like, and various devices (such as digital cameras) can be connected via the various interfaces 43.

  In this digital color multi-function peripheral 1, a color reduction process for reducing the number of colors of a predetermined image, such as an image read by the image reading device 8 when scanning a document, a dropout for dropping out a desired color. Various image processing such as color processing can be performed. Hereinafter, the contents of such image processing will be described. In the following, an example of scanning a document will be described. However, the case of performing such image processing is not limited to scanning a document.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for executing this processing. Such processing is executed by the CPU 31 based on an application program that is read from the storage medium M or downloaded from the Internet 6 and installed in the storage device 34. First, when the user wants to perform a color reduction process, a dropout color process, etc. on the image and execute a copy of the document, the user opens the scanner screen 51 (FIG. 6) on the display device 40 of the operation input device 41 and performs a desired process to be performed. The image processing content is specified (details will be described later) (first specifying means) (Y in step S1). Then, when the start button 44 is pressed (Y in step S2), the CPU 31 instructs the image processing unit A to execute scanning of the document (step S3). As a result, the image processing unit section A scans the original with the image reading device 8, stores the color image data of the read image in the HDD 17, and the image processing unit section A stores the image data in the information processing unit B. Send save end notification for.

  When the storage end notification is received (Y in step S4), the CPU 31 takes in the color image data stored in the HDD 17 from the image processing unit A to the memory unit 32 (step S5), and performs a step for this color image data. The image processing is executed according to the contents specified in S1 (details will be described later) (image processing means) (step S6), and the image data after the image processing is stored in the storage device 34 (step S7).

  The designation of the contents of the image processing on the scanner screen 51 (step S1) will be described with reference to FIG. On the scanner screen 51, execution of color reduction or black-and-white binarization can be selected. That is, the execution button 52 is selected when selecting to perform color reduction or black-and-white binarization of an image. When the color reduction process for reducing the number of colors in the image is executed, the number of colors after the color reduction is selected from among 256 colors, 16 colors, 8 colors, 4 colors, and 2 colors using the selection buttons 53 to 57. When the selection button 58 is selected, automatic color reduction is selected.

  When the image is converted into black and white, the selection button 59 or 60 is selected depending on whether the document is a character image or a photographic image.

  Furthermore, a dropout color can be selected when the image is binarized into black and white. When the dropout color is executed, the color component to be dropped out is selected from the red, green, blue, and chromatic colors using the selection buttons 61 to 64. When the dropout color is not executed, the selection button 65 is selected.

  The contents of the image processing (step S6) will be described. When the selection buttons 53 to 58 are selected, when the original color image data is, for example, a JPEG full color image or a PNG color image, 256 colors, 16 colors, 8 colors, 4 colors, or 2 are selected according to the user's selection. Reduce to color and convert to PNG image. When the selection button 58 is selected, when the number of colors in the image is small from the beginning (can be approximated), the number of colors is automatically reduced to the PNG image.

  When the selection button 59 or 60 is selected, when the original color image data is, for example, a JPEG full color image or a PNG color image, the original color image data is converted into a black and white TIFF image. In this case, depending on the selection button 59 or 60, predetermined image processing suitable for a character image or a photographic image is also performed.

  At this time, when the selection buttons 61 to 63 are selected, one of the colors of the R, G, and B color regions of the original color image data depends on whether the selection is red, green, or blue. The area is deleted, the color component is removed, and binarized into black and white, and converted into, for example, a black and white TIFF image. When the selection button 64 is selected, pixels with a difference between the three colors of R, G, and B are deleted by a certain percentage (for example, 30%) or more, and the color components are removed, so that black and white binarization is performed. .

  By executing the processing as described above, the number of colors of the image can be reduced to the extent desired by the user, and the size of the image data can be reduced. Also, when binarizing in black and white, the size of image data can be reduced by dropping out a specific color component of a color image and binarizing it.

  Unlike the processing in FIG. 5, when the image processing content is selected after the image is scanned, the scanned image is displayed on the display device 40 as shown in FIG. 73) By moving the cursor 71 on the display image 73 and selecting the button 72, the range on the image 74 to be subjected to the image processing in step S6 may be designated (second designation means). . Alternatively, this range designation may be performed by inputting coordinate information on the image with a soft key (not shown) displayed on the display device 40. In this case, the image processing in step S6 is performed only on the portion of the image whose range is specified, and other regions on the image are left as they are.

  In this case, it is possible to maintain high image quality in important areas on the image while reducing the number of colors and reducing the size of the image data by dropping out color components in areas that are not important. .

1 is a system configuration diagram including a digital color multifunction peripheral of the best mode for carrying out the present invention; FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing a digital color multifunction peripheral. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of each part of the digital color multifunction peripheral. It is a top view which shows the structure of an operation panel. It is a flowchart explaining the process which scans an image and preserve | saves it at a memory | storage device. It is a top view of a scanner screen. It is a top view of the operation screen in the case of designating the range on the image which performs image processing.

Explanation of symbols

M storage medium B image processing apparatus

Claims (7)

First designation means for accepting designation of the number of colors so as to reduce the number of colors of the color image data;
Image processing means for reducing the number of colors of the color image data as specified,
An image processing apparatus. First specifying means for receiving specification of a color component to be deleted when the color image data is converted into black and white;
Image processing means for deleting the designated color component of the color image data to binarize the color image data;
An image processing apparatus. A second designating unit for designating a range on the image for reducing the number of colors or binarizing the black and white;
The image processing means reduces the number of colors as specified for the image within the range or binarizes the monochrome;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. First designation means for accepting designation of the number of colors via the input device so as to reduce the number of colors of the color image data;
Image processing means for reducing the number of colors of the color image data as specified,
A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute. First specifying means for receiving specification of a color component to be deleted when the color image data is converted into black and white;
Image processing means for deleting the designated color component of the color image data to binarize the color image data;
A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute. A second designating unit for designating a range on the image for reducing the number of colors or binarizing the black and white;
The color number conversion means reduces the number of colors as specified for the image within the range or binarizes the monochrome.
The program according to claim 4 or 5. A storage medium storing the program according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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